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A24 TECHNOLOGY
Thursday 9 January 2020
White House proposes guidelines for regulating the use of AI

By MATT O'BRIEN Partnership on AI, which
AP Technology Writer advocates for responsible
The Trump administration AI and has backing from
is proposing new rules to major tech firms and phi-
guide future federal regula- lanthropies, said the White
tion of artificial intelligence House principles won't likely
used in medicine, transpor- have sweeping or immedi-
tation and other industries. ate effects. But she said she
But the vagueness of the was encouraged that they
principles announced by detailed a U.S. approach
the White House is unlikely centered on values such as
to satisfy AI watchdogs trustworthiness and fairness.
who have warned of a "The AI developer commu-
lack of accountability as nity may see that as a posi-
computer systems are de- tive step in the right direc-
ployed to take on human tion," said Lyons, who previ-
roles in high-risk social set- ously worked for the White
tings, such as mortgage House science and tech-
lending or job recruitment. nology office during the
The White House said that Obama administration. "It's
in deciding regulatory ac- a little bit hard to see what
tion, U.S. agencies "must the actual impact will be."
consider fairness, non- In this Nov. 29, 2019, file photo, a metal head made of motor parts symbolizes artificial intelli- What's missing, she add-
discrimination, openness, gence, or AI, at the Essen Motor Show for tuning and motorsports in Essen, Germany. ed, are clear mechanisms
transparency, safety, and for holding AI systems ac-
security." But federal agen- law enforcement use fa- The White House said the ficer, said in a call with re- countable.
cies must also avoid setting cial recognition and other proposals unveiled Tues- porters Monday. Another tech watchdog,
up restrictions that "need- forms of AI. They are specifi- day are meant to promote Rapid advancements in New York University's AI
lessly hamper AI innova- cally limited to how federal private sector applications AI technology have raised Now Institute, said it wel-
tion and growth," reads a agencies devise new AI of AI that are safe and fair, fresh concern as comput- comed new boundaries on
memo being sent to U.S. regulations for the private while also pushing back ers increasingly take on AI applications but it "will
agency chiefs from Russell sector. There's a 60-day against stricter regulations jobs such as diagnosing take time to assess how ef-
Vought, acting director of public comment period favored by some lawmak- medical conditions, driving fective these principles are
the Office of Management before the rules take effect. ers and activists. cars, recommending stock in practice."
and Budget. "These principles are inten- Federal agencies such as investments, judging credit Kratsios said he hopes the
"Agencies must avoid a tionally high-level," said the Food and Drug Ad- risk and recognizing individ- new principles can serve as
precautionary approach Lynne Parker, U.S. deputy ministration and the Fed- ual faces in video footage. a template for other demo-
that holds AI systems to chief technology officer at eral Aviation Administra- It's often not clear how AI cratic institutions such as
such an impossibly high the White House's Office of tion will be bound to follow systems make their deci- the European Commission,
standard that society can- Science and Technology the new AI principles. That sions, leading to questions which has put forward its
not enjoy their benefits," Policy. "We purposely want- makes the rules "the first of of how far to trust them own AI ethical guidelines,
the memo says. ed to avoid top-down, their kind from any govern- and when to keep humans to preserve shared values
The rules won't affect how one-size-fits-all, blanket ment," Michael Kratsios, the in the loop. without impeding the tech
federal agencies such as regulations." U.S. chief technology of- Terah Lyons of the nonprofit industry.q

Facebook, eBay crack down on

fake reviews at UK request

ing reviews after it ordered 53 users who were selling and if these are misleading
them last year to address fake review services on the or untrue, then shoppers
the problem. auction site and temporar- could end up being misled
Facebook removed 188 ily suspended another 176 into buying something that
pages and groups and users. isn't right for them - leaving
disabled 24 accounts that Facebook agreed to beef businesses who play by the
were involved in the fake up its systems to detect rules missing out."
review trade, some on its In- and remove fake review EBay said it has "zero toler-
stagram platform. Some of material while eBay refined ance for fake or misleading
In this July 11, 2019, file photo, an Ebay app is shown on a mo- the pages and groups were its existing filters to better reviews and will continue
bile phone in Miami. identified by the agency, identify and block listings to take action against any
Associated Press others were found by Face- for online review services, seller that breaches our
book. Some of the groups the CMA said. user polices."
LONDON (AP) — Britain's involved in the illicit busi- offered in online posts to "Fake reviews are really Facebook said it has "in-
competition watchdog ness. write fake reviews for pay- damaging to shoppers vested heavily" to stop peo-
said Wednesday that Face- The Competition and Mar- ment or in exchange for and businesses alike," the ple offering or trading fake
book and eBay pledged to kets Authority said the products. Others recruited regulator's chief execu- review services on its plat-
crack down on the trade in two U.S. tech companies people to write them on tive, Andrea Coscelli, said forms, but "we know there
fake reviews at its request, agreed to step up efforts to shopping and review sites. in a statement. "Millions of is more work to do and are
removing hundreds of ac- detect, investigate and re- The regulator also said people base their shop- working with the CMA to
counts, pages and groups spond to fake and mislead- eBay permanently banned ping decisions on reviews, address this issue."q